Measuring gauge



April 15, 1952 R. E. BAUER 2,592,840

MEASURING GAUGE.

Filed oct. so, 1944 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Illil INVEN TOR. FlfS/Zfdzzer' /S'rTaR/vsns.

April 15, 1952 R. E. BAUER 2,592,840

v MEASURING GAUGE Filed oct. 30, 1944 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Patented pr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to measuring gages and particularly relates to improvements in a gage of the type disclosed in Bauer Patent No. 2,325,170.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to eliminate the possibility of slight inaccuracies in the measurements by gages of the type above mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements. in the mounting of the measuring or indicating devices on stanchions, whereby the measuring devices may be swung about the axis of the stanchion so thatA the work-engaging meme ber may beset above any place across the width of the anvil.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for compensating for any variation or inaccuracies that may be present in the lead of the micrometer screws employed in the gages of the present invention.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure l is a side elevational view, with parts in vertical section, of a measuring gage embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line a-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial, elevational view of the micrometer head of the present invention, taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line. 6--6 of Fig. 3.

In general, the measuring gage of the present invention includes a micrometer and a dial indicator combined in such a manner that after the micrometer is once set to a specified dimension of the workpieces produced, the diierencebetween the specified dimension and the actual dimension of the workpiece may be directly read from the dial indicator. The micrometer spindle, the dial plunger, and the work-engaging member are all axially aligned so that movement of the work-engaging member is directly translated into movement of the dial indicator without the introduction of even slight error.

Referring to the drawings, the measuring gage of the present invention comprises a base I having a horizontal work supporting anvil 2 xedly supported thereon. A stanchion in the form of a vertical post 3- is mounted on the base I, laterally offset from the yanvil 2.

A micrometer generally indicated at 4 and a dial indicator generally indicated at 5 are mounted on a slide or carriage 6. rihe particular relationship of the micrometer and dial indicator `and their mountings on the slide will be described in detail hereinafter.

To mount the slide `Ii on the stanchion 3, the slide is constructed with a vertical, split clamp which embraces the stanchion 3 and which may be frictionally clamped thereon. To accomplish this, bosses 8 and 9 are formed on the carriage 6, and are provided with aligned openings I0 and ii therethrough. Openingl l0 is smooth and opening I I is threaded for the reception of the threaded end I2 of a thumb screw I3. The thumb screw I3 is formed with an annular shoulder I4 which bears against the adjacent face of boss 8. Byv turning the screw I3 the split sections of the carriage 6 may be clamped or unclamped with respect to the stanchion 3.

The carriage E may be vertically adjusted and rotatively moved with respect to the vertical axis of stanchion 3 by means of an intermeshing rack I4 and pinion I5. The rack teeth I4 are formed along, or mounted on, the stanchion 3 and the pinion I5 is mounted on the carriage 6. The pinion I5 has a trunnion portion i6 at one end thereof which is received with a bearing portion I'I on carriage 6; and thev opposite end of the pinion has a shaft I8 terminating in a thumb wheel I9. The shaft portion I3 is rotatably received within bearing opening 20 formed in the carriage B.

The pinion I5 is hourglass in form, as best shown in Fig. 2. The teeth of the pinion extend longitudinally thereof and lie in planes passing through the longitudinal axis of the pinion. The pinion teeth have longitudinal curvatures formed on Ya radius having as its center the longitudinal axis of the stanchion. The meshing tooth of the pinion is thus concentric with the periphery of the stanchion.

The teeth of pinion I5 arelong, as ycompared to the width of the rack:r teeth, so that the pinion and rack. will remain in mesh while the carriage may be rotated about the axis of the stanchion. Thus, the work engaging member of the gage may be swung about the stanchion to engage the `workpiece at a number of points thereon.

As mentioned above, the micrometer 4 `and the indicator 5 are mounted on the carriage 6 for movement therewith. The micrometer 4 comprises the usual spindle 2|, which is vertically disposed and which has the usual fine threads formed thereon. The carriage 6 may be formed to provide the micrometer head 22 with a central vertical opening 23 through which the spindle 2| extends. A lead nut 24 is iixedly mounted within opening 23 adjacent the upper end thereof and threadably receives the threaded portion of spindle 2|. A bearing sleeve 281 is xeclly mounted in the lower end of opening 23 and rotatably receives the smooth, depending end of the spindle 2| therethrough.

A thimble or cap 25 is secured to the upper end of spindle 2|, through a tapered central opening 26, which receives the tapered upper end of the spindle therein. The head 22 is telescopically received within the cap 25 in the usual way. The cap 25 is tapered inwardly around the lower edge thereof to provide a surface upon which the scale 21 is marked around the periphery thereof.

The spindle 2| may be locked in position by means best shown in Figs. i, 3, and 6, which comprise a lock nut 28 having a central threaded opening 38 which threadably receives the spindle 2|. The nut 23 is disposed on the top of head 22 and is held against rotative movement by means of a pin 3| which is mounted in an opening in head 22 and which projects upwardly within a notch 32 formed in the nut 29. Diametrically opposed coil springs 33 are disposed between the under surface of nut 29 and the adjacent top surface of head 22.

The nut 23 is slotted in a central plane as indicated at 34 so that the slot extends into opening 38. A pair of aligned openings 35 and 36 is formed through the slotted portions of the nut, the opening 35 being threaded and the opening 36 smooth. An elongated lock screw 31 extends upwardly through an opening in the head 22. The upper end of the screw 31 is reduced and threaded as indicated at 38. This forms a shoulder which abuts against the under surface of the nut (Fig. 6) with the threaded portion 38 received within the threaded opening 35. Thus by turning the screw 31 in one direction, the split sections of the nut are drawn together to bind the spindle to the lock nut 29. Turning the screw in the opposite direction releases the spindle.

The calibrations on the scale 21 successively register with a reference line 40 on head 22, the usual scale being indicated on the reference line 4U. According to one feature of the present invention, the scale 40 is formed on a rotatable insert 4| which is received within a circular recess 42 in head 22. The insert has a central shank 43 which is rotatably received in opening 44 in the head. The insert may thus be rotated for adjustment about the axis of shank 43 and may be held in adjusted position by means of a setscrew 45.

The function of the adjustable scale 48 is to compensate for any inaccuracies in the lead of the micrometer screw or spindle. For a perfectly accurate lead screw the scale is positioned Avertically and fixed in that position by the setscrew 45. However, if the lead screw is not accurate, compensation is made by rotating the insert to the extent indicated by a check of the particular screw and so fixing the insert to tilt the scale with respect to the vertical.

The calibrations on the scale 21 successively register with the scale line 40; and, in accordance with conventional practice, the scale read- 4 ings are made to determine the extent of axial adjustment of micrometer spindle 2|.

The dial indicator 5'is of conventional construction, being of the usual spring operated type, but is preferably designed and calibrated to amplify the reading representing the difference between the actual dimension of the workpiece and the specified dimension so that this difference may be quickly noted. The indicator includes the usual spring operated plunger 46 which is disposed on the top of the indicator housing and extends vertically upward. The plunger 46 is axially aligned with the axis of the spindle 2| and bears against the under surface thereof. The plunger 46 is actuated by movement of the indicator 5 toward the spindle 2|l and causes rotation of the dial pointer in the usual way.

A depending work engaging member 41, which terminates in a tapered end, is fixed to the under side of theindicator housing and is on the axis of the spindle 2| so that it is also axially aligned with the axis of plunger 46.

The indicator 5 is mounted on the carriage 6 for movement therewith and also for limited movement with respect to the micrometer 4 axially of the micrometer spindle 2|. The means for so mounting the indicator 5 includes a vertical rod 48 which is mounted on the carriage 6 for limited vertical movement on an axis parallel to the vertical axis of spindle 2|. A boss 49 is formed integral with the front wall of carriage 6, and a tapered opening 50 is formed through the boss 49 and continues through the head 22 to form a tapered opening 5|. The openings 50 and 5| are formed on the same taper.

Externally tapered bearing sleeves or bushings 52 and 53 are received within the tapered openings 50 and 5|, respectively, and slidably receive the rod 48 therethrough. By having the holes 50 and 5| formed on the same, continuous taper and by using the tapered bushings, the holes are bound to be aligned when reamed so that the axis of the rod 48 is parallel to the axis of the spindle 2|.

The indicator is adjustably fixed to the rod 48 for movement therewith by means of a split clamp 54 which has one end xed to the back of the indicator housing with the opposite end embracing the rod 48 and clamped thereto by means of a screw 55. The clamp extends through a slot in the front wall of carriage 6.

The rod 48 is operatively connected with the spindle 2| for limited movement with respect thereto by means of a lost-motion connection. Such connection includes a laterally extending arm 56 which embraces the rod 48 and is fixed thereto by means of a screw 51 between the bushings 52 and 53. The free end of thearm 56 is bifurcated so that the inner, facing side walls 58 thereof slidably bear against diametrically opposite sides of the spindle adjacent the lower end thereof. An annular groove 59 is formed in the spindle 2| adjacent the lower end thereof. A transverse pin 60 of uniform circular cross-sec tion is mounted in the arm 56 across the bight of the bifurcated end and is received within the groove 59. The width of the slot 53 exceeds the diameter of the pin 60 by a predetermined amount so that the rod, carrying the indicator 5 therewith, may slide vertically relative to the micrometer spindle.

The dial indicator 5 has a pointer (not shown) operatively connected with the plunger 46 in the usual way by a spring operated rack and pinion S mechanism (not shown). The face of the dial is graduated to indicate fractions of an inch and the scale is numbered in both directions from the zero point in order to give both plus and minus readings.

In order to initially adjust the gage to check the desired workpieces, the dial indicator is adjustably xed on the rod 48 so that, with the micrometer set at the proper lwork-piece dimension to be checked, the dial pointer indicates .004 of an inch under zero when the work engaging member 41 is free from engagement with the workpiece. This enables the indicator 5 together with the rod 48 to move upwardly relative to the micrometer spindle .004 of an inch before the pointer on the dial indicates zero. If, for example, the width of the groove 59 allows .025 of an inch vertical movement of the dial indicator 5 relative to the micrometer spindle, the

gage will then measure from .004 of an inch under size to .021 of an inch over size. These dimensions are illustrative and may be varied to suit various conditions.

In the use of the gage above described, assume that it is desired to measure a workpiece that is supposed to be exactly .250 of an inch thick, or in diameter. The micrometer 4 is rst set at its zero position. The carriage 5 is then adjusted on the stanchion until member 41 engages the anvil 2 and the plunger 46 is depressed by the micrometer spindle to the extent required to move the dial pointer to the zero position. The carriage 6 is then clamped to the stanchion by screw I3. If the pointer does not move to the zero position the rim of the dial may be turned to that position.

The gage is then properly adjusted and the work engaging member 41 is in contact with the anvil 2. The micrometer cap 25 is then turned so that the micrometer reads .250 of an inch. The workpiece is then placed on the anvil 2 with the work engaging member 41 contacting the top of the workpiece. This causes the dial indicator 5 to move vertically with respect to the spindle, causing depression of the plunger 46 to actuate the dial pointer. If the pointer registers with the zero, the workpiece is the exact correct dimension. Under size or over size of the workpiece is directly indicated by the pointer position.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment described without departing from the invention the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring gage comprising a stanchion, a mounting member mounted on said stanchion, a micrometer mounted on said member, said micrometer including a depending, adjustable spindle, a dial indicator mounted on said member and having a plunger disposed below and engageable with said spindle, a depending workengaging member attached to the indicator, said spindle and said plunger being axially aligned and said work-engaging member being disposed on the same axis, and means mounting said dial indicator on said member for limited vertical movement with respect to said member and said micrometer spindle, said last named means including a rod mounted on said member to one side of the axis of said spindle with the axis of the rod parallel to the axis of the spindle, means forming spaced, axially aligned, tapered openings in said member, said openings being formed on the same taper, tapered bushings disposed in said openings and slidably receiving said rod therein, and means connecting said dial indicator to said rod for movement therewith.

2. A micrometer gage comprising a tubular housing, a lead screw disposed within said housing, a lead nut mounted within said housing and threadably receiving said screw, a cap telescopically receiving said housing and connected to said screw for rotation therewith, a peripheral scale on said cap, an insert having a scale thereon, means mounting said insert on said housing for adjustable rotation to vary the angle of the insert scale with respect to the peripheral scale to compensate for inaccuracies in the lead screw.

RUSSELL E. BAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,386,899 Samuel Aug. 9, 1921 2,073,089 Autenreith Mar. 8, 1937 2,244,964 Poock et al June 10, 1941 2,267,583 Carroll Dec. 23, 1941 2,287,273 Rabb June 23, 1942 2,307,323 Lailamme Jan. 5, 1943 2,325,170 Bauer July 27, 1943 

